Grants

A newly-received grant will transform learning and care at a School of Dentistry Outreach site. 

Faculty cannot alleviate all the stress that comes with these firsts—but Rachel Uppgaard, DDS, clinical associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, knew she could do something to build confidence for her learners.

Dira Putri, PhD candidate in the Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology program at the University of Minnesota, is the inaugural recipient of the Shelley N. Grimes Conference Travel Fellowship award.

A collaboration with the University of Minnesota Medical School and other head and neck surgeons will seek to improve the quality of life of cancer patients who require prosthodontic rehabilitation.

Riggs was thrilled at the concept of a loan forgiveness program that would allow the School of Dentistry to remain competitive. “This is a life-changing amount of money for recipients,” she explained.

Cyndee Stull, DHSc, director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, takes the connection between oral and systemic health seriously. That connection informs everything she does, and it’s the inspiration behind a project being funded by Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation.

Michelle Arnett, RDH, MS, BS, assistant professor of dental hygiene, received a Colgate CARES award to explore the efficacy of motivational interviewing (MI) at oral hygiene appointments. The Colgate Award for Research Excellence is a year-long research grant that provides $30,000 to a researcher in their first five years as an investigator. According to Colgate, “the goal of the program is to advance oral healthcare therapies in the realm of basic science, translational science and clinical care.” Arnett is the second dental hygienist in the Colgate CARE grant history to win this competitive grant. 

A collaborative study involving two School of Dentistry researchers received an Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA) Faculty Research Grant to study methods of using osteoclast exosomes for bone growth. 

Across programs and subjects at the School of Dentistry, faculty members pride themselves on their innovative, engaging teaching styles. Whether didactic or clinical, courses encourage active learning and hands-on experiences. But what happens when “hands-on” is no longer an option?

A proposed study by two School of Dentistry researchers has received a $127,000, two-year grant to study hesitancy and willingness to provide HPV vaccinations among dental providers.